Nebraska city votes to restrict illegal immigration

Jun. 22, 2010 12:00 AMAssociated Press

FREMONT, Neb. - Voters in the eastern Nebraska city of Fremont on Monday approved a ban on hiring or renting property to illegal immigrants, the latest proposal in a series of immigration regulations taken up by communities around the country.

About 57 percent of voters in Fremont supported the proposal, according to unofficial results that still must be certified by the election commissioner. The measure is likely to face a long and costly court battle, with the American Civil Liberties Union saying it will try to block it before it even goes into effect.

The city of 25,000 people has watched its Hispanic population surge in the past two decades, largely due to the jobs available at the nearby Fremont Beef and Hormel meatpacking plants. The city also has a low unemployment rate of 4.9 percent. Nonetheless, residents worry that jobs are going to illegal immigrants, who they fear could drain community resources. Backers of the measure fought in the Nebraska Supreme Court to put it to a public vote.

Supporters say the ban is needed to make up for what they see as lax federal law enforcement. Backers say it could fuel discrimination.

The measure will require potential renters to apply for a license to rent. The process will force city officials to check if the renters are in the country legally. If they are found to be illegal, they will not be issued a license to rent. The ordinance also requires businesses to use the federal E-Verify database to ensure employees are allowed to work.

The vote is the latest chapter in the tumult over illegal immigration, including an Arizona law that requires police investigating another incident or crime to ask people about their immigration status if there's a "reasonable suspicion" they're in the country illegally.